The dynasty is back, folks.

Penn State wrestling dominated the postseason last year, winning the program’s 12th national title in program history and 11th in the past 13 years.

This season, Penn State has reloaded most of its talent. The program welcomes back senior leadership, such as national runner-up Beau Bartlett and national champions Carter Starocci and Greg Kerkvliet, all of whom will cash in the last of their eligibility this season.

Aside from Bartlett, Starocci, and Kerkvliet, Penn State also has reigning national champion Levi Haines and national runner-up Mitchell Mesenbrink in the lineup, who hold strong positions in the starting roster.

The Nittany Lions have some holes to fill this season, though, and with multiple wrestlers changing weight classes, there are bound to be some new faces in the starting lineup.

125 Pounds — Luke Lilledahl

If you don’t know who Luke Lilledahl is, you will soon. The newest talent to the program is slated to start as a true freshman this season. Lilledahl was the No. 2 wrestler in the recruiting class of 2024 and posted an astounding 68-3 high school record, resulting in three consecutive Pennsylvania state titles. He is a two-time medalist in the U20 World Championships, winning the competition this past September at 57 kilograms, and a two-time winner at the Pan Am Championships in 2023 and 2024.

Lilledahl’s successes landed him at Penn State, where he will surely make a name for himself early in the vacant 125-pound weight class. Last year’s Big Ten Champion, Braeden Davis, who has since moved up in weight, was the last true freshman to thrive at Penn State, paving the way for Lilledahl to succeed.

133 Pounds — Braeden Davis

After winning the Big Ten Championship at 125 pounds, Braeden Davis is set to grow into the 133-pound weight class. Ranked No. 7 in the country, according to InterMat, Davis will work to add another strong season to his young collegiate career.

The second-year starter went 22-4 with five major victories and five tech falls last season. He won the Big Ten title but failed to produce in the NCAA Championships after losing in the quarterfinals and the consolation bracket.

Last year, Aaron Nagao held down the fort in the weight class, placing third in the Big Ten Championships but failing to reach the podium at the NCAA Championships. The former Minnesota wrestler, who went 17-7 last season, has been nursing an injury this offseason, per head coach Cael Sanderson. With Nagao hurt, Davis has a clear opportunity to take over the position and start again for the Nittany Lions.

141 Pounds — Beau Bartlett

Returning senior Bartlett is coming off his best finish as a Nittany Lion. He posted an outstanding record of 24-2 last season with seven falls and three major victories. After going 11-0 in dual meets and 8-0 in Big Ten duals, Bartlett came up one takedown short in the Big Ten finals and national finals to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez.

According to InterMat, Bartlett is slated to start the season as the No. 3 wrestler in the weight class behind Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado and Mendez.

With a tough weight class this year, expect Bartlett to, at the very least, make the semifinals of this year’s NCAA Championships in his last year in a blue and white singlet.

149 Pounds — Shayne Van Ness

Shayne Van Ness is a name that may sound familiar. He didn’t compete for most of last season due to surgery on an injury that lingered before the season started. He was slated as the No. 2 149-pounder before he announced his absence and was then filled by then-true freshman Tyler Kasak.

In his redshirt freshman season, Van Ness finished with a 24-7 record with seven major victories, two technical falls, and five pins. He placed fourth in the Big Ten Tournament and finished third in the NCAA Championships to secure All-American status.

Now that Kasak has moved on to another weight class, Van Ness can retake his position in the 149-pound class. He is shown as the No. 2 wrestler on InterMat, behind only Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson.

Don’t be surprised if Van Ness wins the Big Ten and heads to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed come springtime.

157 Pounds — Alex Facundo/Tyler Kasak

This is the competition to watch in the early part of the season. Alex Facundo, a returning sophomore, is fresh off of an Olympic redshirt that sidelined him last season. Facundo has been competing in the freestyle circuit after qualifying for the Olympic Trials and winning the 2024 Pan-American games at 79 kilograms. In his redshirt freshman season, Facundo had a 19-6 record with five major victories, a technical fall, and a pin. His postseason was forgetful, placing seventh in the Big Ten Tournament and going 0-2 in the NCAA Championships. Expect Facundo to duel with Kasak for much of the first part of the season.

Kasak surprised everyone last year when he got his opportunity to start after Van Ness suffered a season-ending surgery in the 149-pound weight class. The then-true freshman rolled to a 24-5 record with five pins, a technical fall, and seven major victories. Kasak, who is ranked as the No. 5 157-pounder by InterMat, has a much better postseason resume compared to Facundo. Kasak finished as an All-American, taking third in the Big Ten and national tournament.

Expect whoever wins this competition to go far in the postseason and compete for a national title.

165 Pounds — Mitchell Mesenbrink

This weight class is a given for Sanderson. Mesenbrink shined last season, and his only loss came in the finals of the NCAA Championships. In his first season at Penn State, Mesenbrink had four pins, nine technical falls, and four major victories. His relentless pursuit and infectious energy are addicting to any wrestling fan. After being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Mesenbrink will aim to be one of the cornerstones of this potent stretch of the lineup.

According to InterMat, Mesenbrink comes in as the No. 1 wrestler in the weight class. With an incredible freshman season and an outstanding international resume, Mesenbrink will continue to be a crowd favorite this season.

174 Pounds — Levi Haines

We’re going to see a much bigger Haines this season. After winning an NCAA title last year at 157 pounds, Haines bulked up to compete in the 174-pound class. The move came after Starocci decided to move up. The spot was open, so Haines filled it. According to Sanderson, he was surprised that Haines was able to compete in the 157-pound weight class last year, making it seem like jumping to 174 wouldn’t be as drastic for Haines as folks may think.

Last season, Haines dominated, marking a 23-0 season with five pins, five technical falls, and five major victories. He capped it off with a Big Ten and national title under his belt. The new addition to the weight class came in at No. 2 in the country, according to InterMat, only behind Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole. It could very well be between O’Toole and Haines competing for this year’s national title.

184 Pounds — Carter Starocci

The story of the season for all of college wrestling will be Starocci. Not only is he attempting to complete a career with an unheard-of fifth national title, he’s going to do it in a different weight class. After four straight years of dominance, Starocci will move to the 184-pound class this season.

Last season, Starocci posted a record of 17-2, and his only two losses came from precautionary injury defaults at the Big Ten Championships. He had three pins, six technical falls, and a major victory en route to becoming a Hodge Trophy finalist.

According to InterMat, Starocci is the top-ranked wrestler in his division, dethroning defending champion Parker Keckeisen. The two wrestlers will meet for the first time on Saturday as a part of the high-profile exhibition of the NWCA All-Star Classic. Starocci will be leading the way for the division all season long.

197 Pounds — Lucas Cochran/Josh Barr

This is the other weight class that could be a toss-up for Sanderson. Lucas Cochran, a junior, is a wrestler who has been known to fill in where he can, even if that means heavyweight. The 197-pound weight class is probably more natural than the 184-pound or heavyweight classes. He posted an 11-2 record last season, including two wins in Big Ten competition at heavyweight. He may not get the start over Josh Barr, but the opportunity is there.

Barr, who has been waiting for his time to shine, will finally get his chance. In his redshirt year last season, Barr went undefeated, finishing with a 14-0 record, including four major victories, six technical falls, and a pin. The Michigan native won four consecutive state titles in high school before choosing the Nittany Lions for his college career. According to InterMat, Barr is No. 23 to begin the season.

These unproven wrestlers aim to fill the shoes of four-time national champion Aaron Brooks, who cruised through his last year of eligibility last season. Cochran and Barr have something to prove, and the competition between the two could come down to the wire for Sanderson.

Heavyweight — Greg Kerkvliet

This is another no-brainer for Sanderson and the staff. Fresh off his first Big Ten and national championship, Kerkvliet decided to stay in Happy Valley for one last year of eligibility. This was massive news for the Nittany Lions, as there was no clear-cut backup for Kerkvliet after the season ended.

Last season, Kervliet went 20-0 with two pins, four technical falls, and eight major victories.

According to InterMat, the heavyweight is slated as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class to start the season. However, Gable Steveson of Minnesota, a foe from Kerkvliet’s past, announced his return to the collegiate circuit this past week. Expect these two giants to be on a collision course to the Big Ten Tournament and the national stage.

Penn State will open its season against Drexel at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, in Rec Hall.